10/14 Pitchers vs Hitters Matchups – Game 1 of ALCS vs Houston

PRICE VS COLE

The Sox as a collective whole (minus Joe Kelly), failed to show up for Game 1 of the ALCS. Before they board the plane going to Houston, it’s imperative that they put on a much better showing to force a 1-1 tie. You simply can’t travel to Houston down 0-2. Sale wasn’t the real Sale lasting just four innings, but luckily limited the Astros offense to just two runs. Sale and the bullpen walked a postseason record TEN batters, but it didn’t fully hurt them until Workman imploded in the 9th inning.

The offense only showed up for one inning, in which Verlander was unable to find the strike zone. They key AB of the game came to Mookie Betts. With the bases loaded and out, Mookie jumped on the very first pitch (hittable too), grounded out into a force play at 3rd base. Mookie is the MAIN guy in the Sox lineup that really need to get going.

Mookie postseason career stats

11 for 52 (.239 avg) 4 Doubles, 2 RBIs, 6 Runs, 6 Walks, 9 Ks, 1 SB

Mookie 2018 postseason

4 for 23 (.174 avg) Double, 2 RBIs, 3 Runs, 3 Walks, 4 Ks

David Price takes the mound for the Sox in a big start to tie up the series. Last start was the biggest start of his Red Sox career (perhaps ever), and he couldn’t get out of the 2nd inning. Now in postseason starts he is 0-9 in ten starts. Something beneficial is that the Boogeymen Yankees are at home. He has pitched well vs the Astros this season and in his career, plus he’s been a much better pitcher this season when not blinded by pinstripes.

VS Yankees- 5 starts (0-4, 11.05 ERA)

17.1 innings, 24 Hits, 23 Runs (21 ER), 11 HRs, 11 Walks, 11 Ks

VS everyone else- 26 starts (16-4, 2.92 ERA)

160.1 innings, 130 Hits, 55 Runs (52 ER), 14 HRs, 41 Walks, 166 Ks

Gerrit Cole takes the ball for the Astros. The 28 year old right hander had quite the successful first season in an Astros uniform going 15-5 with a 2.88 ERA. His 276 Ks ranked 3rd in baseball. Only teammate Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer had more punchouts. Cole’s last start was a nails playoff start vs the Indians. He went seven innings, allowing just 1 Run off of 3 Hits. He didn’t walk any, while striking out 12 Indians batters. In his last three starts overall, he has just ONE walk in a span of twenty innings.

Cole’s last time out vs the Sox was Sept 7 at Fenway, where Price was also his opposing starter. He was in line to get the loss after giving up 2 Runs in 6 innings…. But the Sox bullpen faltered, as the Astros eventually came out on top by a score of 6-3.

David Price— Career vs Houston Astros in 12 games (10 starts), 6-2 with a 2.94 ERA. Career at Fenway Park in 51 games (48 starts), 26-7 with a 3.08 ERA.

Houston Astros:

Jose Altuve – 8 for 25 (.320 avg) Double, Walk, 8 Ks

Alex Bregman – 3 for 7 (.429 avg) Double, HR, 2 RBIs, 2 Walks, K

Carlos Correa – 2 for 10 (.200 avg) HR, RBI, 2 Walks, 4 Ks

Evan Gattis – 1 for 7 (.143 avg) Triple, RBI, 3 Ks

Marwin Gonzalez – 2 for 8 (.250 avg) Triple, RBI, 2 Ks

Yuli Gurriel – 3 for 9 (.333 avg) Double

Tony Kemp – 0 for 1, K

Martin Maldonado – 3 for 15 (.200 avg) Double, 4 RBIs, Walk, 5 Ks

Jake Marisnick – 1 for 12 (.083 avg) HR, 2 RBIs, 5 Ks

Brian McCann – 11 for 32 (.344 avg) 3 HRs, 8 RBIs, Walk, 4 Ks

Josh Reddick – 0 for 11, 3 Ks

George Springer – 5 for 24 (.208 avg) HR, 2 RBIs, Walk, 14 Ks

Tyler White – 0 for 5, 2 Walks, 4 Ks

Gerrit Cole — Career vs Boston Red Sox in 4 starts, 2-1 with a 4.32 ERA. Career at Fenway Park in 2 starts, 0-1 with a 5.73 ERA. In those two starts, the Sox have gotten to him for 7 Runs off of 12 Hits in 11 innings, having 3 Walks while striking out 10 Red Sox batters.